Housing · Renting

Right to rent: what landlords must check from 1 October 2026 — and how to get a share code in five minutes

An updated right to rent code of practice applies in England from 1 October. Every adult occupier is checked, even those not named on the agreement; landlord penalties reach £20,000 per person. Here is how to pass the check in five minutes with a share code, what British and Irish citizens show instead, why nobody may check 'only the foreign-looking' tenants — and what you must do if you sublet a room yourself.

Thanks for £1

Narrow Soho street with brick buildings and pink benches along the pavement — Soho, London. Before moving into a rented home in England, every adult occupier is checked — including those not named on the tenancy agreement Photo: ONLYWAY NEWS

Right to rent is the mandatory immigration status check before a home is let. The scheme has existed since 2016, but from 1 October 2026 an updated code of practice applies: it clarifies exactly when checks must be carried out and requires digital verification providers (DVSPs) to be registered with the Home Office. The rules concern everyone renting or letting in England — the scheme does not operate in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Who gets checked?

Every adult aged 18 or over who will live in the property as their only or main home — including people not named on the tenancy agreement. The check happens before the agreement is signed; for time-limited statuses, no earlier than 28 days before the start date. If a tenant's status is time-limited, the landlord must repeat the check when it approaches expiry.

ADV · A003We build websites for tradespeople and sole traders — £219Customers see your work and prices and message you straight away. Ready in 3 days, £219 instead of £438.Advertise here

How to pass the check if you have an eVisa

The fastest route is a share code. Sign in to your UKVI account at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status, choose to prove your status and get a code for renting. The landlord needs only that code and your date of birth — no passport copies, no need to show the eVisa itself. A share code lasts 90 days and can be used more than once. The check is free on both sides: if an "agent" charges you for arranging a share code, you are paying for a five-minute job you can do yourself.

What if you are British or Irish?

A passport is enough — including an expired British or Irish one, or a certificate of naturalisation. And everyone gets checked: the code of practice explicitly prohibits checking only people who "look foreign" — selective checks by accent or appearance count as discrimination and a separate breach.

Can you show documents instead of a code?

Yes. GOV.UK says it in plain words: you choose between a share code and original immigration documents, and your landlord "cannot reject your application because you gave them an eligible immigration document instead of a share code". In practice the code is quicker and more reliable — especially now that physical BRP cards are being phased out in favour of eVisas.

What landlords risk

The penalties are civil and count per person: for a lodger in your own home — £5,000 for a first breach and £10,000 for a repeat within three years; for an occupier under a tenancy agreement — £10,000 and £20,000. A first-time penalty can be cut by 30% if paid within 21 days. The only protection is a correctly carried out and recorded check — the statutory excuse.

Subletting a room? This applies to you

If you rent a flat and sublet a room, take in a lodger, or move in a relative over 18, the duty to check falls on you. An informal arrangement offers no protection from the penalty. You can check a tenant's status free through the official service at gov.uk/view-right-to-rent — you will need their share code and date of birth. Keep the confirmation: the record is what gives you the statutory excuse.